MI/ClassicCam Observing Procedures

1. Accessing Data Acquisition Computer (LLama)

• Username: obsmag1b
• Password: check with the staff
• Open an xterm window
• cd /home/obsmag1b/data
• mkdir 20020914_15 (e.g.)
• cd 20020914_15

2. Start Detector Control Window in LLama

• From xterm window type 'classic_cam' to open detector control window
• Before the window appears you will get a single item menu. You must make sure that the telescope is set to magellan1
• Open an IRAF window and go to the recently created directory (20020914_15)
• Load the 'ircam' package
• Open XImtool

3. Open Flat Field Screen Lamp Window

• From any window type 'ffs' to open Flat Field Screen Lamp Window

4. Dome Flats

• Turn OFF platform lights
• Turn ON quartz light at the platform and adjust voltage to 1.5 units
• In Flat Field Screen Lamp Window click IN to move screen into place
• Open dark slide
• In 'classic-cam' window set exposure time, filter, Aux Filter=open, Loop=15, DPattern=none, object to "Dome Flat"
• Exposure times:
  • Js: 10 sec (10000 cts/pixel)
  • J: 10 sec (10000 cts/pixel)
  • H: 5 sec (10000 cts/pixel)
  • K: 3 sec (10000 cts/pixel)
  • Ks: 3 sec (10000 cts/pixel)
• Start sequence with START botton
• When the sequence of flats is complete turn OFF quartz lamp
• In Flat Field Screen Lamp Window click OUT to move screen into place

5. Sky Flats

At sunset you must begin taking sky flats:


• Enable telescope tracking
• In 'classic-cam' window set filter, Aux Filter=open, Loop=1, DPattern=dice-5, DStep=7, "T-only", object to "Sky Flat"
• Do the sequence K, Ks, H, Js, J
• Exposure times should be set between 5-15 sec so that you get 10000 cts/pixel
• Start sequence with START botton

6. Observing

• In 'classic-cam' window choose "T+G+SH"
• In 'classic-cam' set Aux Filter=open
• In 'classic-cam' set object to object's name
• In 'classic-cam' window choose DPattern=dice-5, DStep=7, select filter, exptime, and Loop
• Exposure times for individual exposures are:
  • J=90sec
  • Js=90sec
  • H=60sec
  • K=20sec
  • Ks=20sec
• For total exposure times check exposure times here.
• In 'classic-cam' window use START to begin exposure

7. Darks

You must take one sequence of 10 darks for each exposure time used during the night (including flats)


• Close dark slide
• In 'classic-cam' window set exptime, Aux Filter=closed, Loop=10, DPattern=none, object to "Dark"
• After finishing the darks turn OFF monitors in control room
• Fill out Night Report here
• You can go party now
  
  mhamuy@lco.cl